The slain Mathew Kyalo Mbobu was one of Kenya’s most respected advocates, legal scholars, and mentors. With a career spanning nearly three decades, he served in multiple roles: lecturer, tribunal chair, author, and public servant.
Mbobu taught at both the University of Nairobi and the Kenya School of Law, specialising in the Law of Evidence, dispute resolution, and governance.
He also served as Chairperson of the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT). Beyond his courtroom practice and academic lectures, he authored The Law and Practice of Evidence in Kenya, a foundational text in many Kenyan law curricula.
His tragic death on 9 September 2025, in a drive-by shooting in Nairobi, left the legal fraternity and his many former students mourning the loss of a brilliant mind and principled teacher.
This article highlights five outstanding Kenyan lawyers who were his students; those who have spoken about his influence, his teaching, and the meaning of being taught by him.
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Nelson Havi
The former President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) reflected on the personal and professional lessons he drew from Mbobu.
For Havi, Mbobu was more than an instructor; he was a moral authority whose values extended into community life and professional integrity.
“Kyalo Mbobu taught me Evidence and International Law. He chaired our homeowners committee in Onyonka Estate. A good man, a wonderful teacher, and a civil adversary in court,” Havi said.
Amason Kingi
The Speaker of the Senate and former Governor of Kilifi County remembered Mbobu with both admiration and sorrow. As a student at the University of Nairobi’s Parklands Campus, Kingi benefited from his intellectual guidance.
“I was honoured to be one of his students … where we benefited from his intellectual mentorship,” Kingi said.
He described Mbobu as a towering figure in law; an advocate of the High Court, a scholar, and a public servant, lamenting the “cold-blooded killing” that ended his life.
Kingi urged investigators to act swiftly and transparently, stressing that justice must be served for a man who had given so much to Kenya’s democratic and legal institutions.
Edwin Sifuna
The Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary-General, Edwin Sifuna, offered a tribute that blended personal memory with professional respect.
“Kyalo Mbobu taught me the Law of Evidence at the University of Nairobi. I also had the opportunity to appear before him at the PPDT when he was Chair,” Sifuna recalled.
To him, Mbobu embodied charm, fairness, and a rare willingness to mentor young lawyers beyond formal instruction. He described the circumstances of Mbobu’s death as “heartbreaking and painful,” particularly amid growing concerns about insecurity.
For Sifuna, Mbobu’s enduring legacy lies not only in the doctrines he taught but also in the empathy and humanity he brought to the practice of law.
Wahome Thuku
The lawyer and political commentator spoke with equal reverence, recalling Mbobu as his Law of Evidence lecturer at the University of Nairobi.
“My University of Nairobi Law of Evidence lecturer… who would have wanted to eliminate this man? Kyalo Mbobu was a practitioner in commercial law and also taught and wrote widely about the Law of Evidence. He taught it so well,” Thuku said.
He highlighted Mbobu’s dual role as scholar and practitioner, noting that his published works remain valuable references in Kenya’s legal system. For Thuku, Mbobu’s death was not just a personal loss but also a major blow to legal education and jurisprudence.
George Kithi
The advocate, who has been active in Kilifi County politics, also shared his reflections on Mbobu’s impact.
“He was my teacher at the university, where he taught me the Law of Evidence. Through his lectures, I built a strong foundation in a subject that is central to legal practice,” Kithi said.
His recollections extended beyond the classroom, as he recounted courtroom encounters where Mbobu, even when standing on the opposite side of a case, displayed professionalism, calmness, and mutual respect.
Kithi underscored that these qualities mirrored the values Mbobu instilled in his students: ethics, fairness, and clarity, not just technical mastery of the law.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that detectives investigating Mbobu’s murder had made progress and identified persons of interest.
He said authorities were working closely with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
“Being in a position of responsibility, we have been in touch with the DCI since this issue occurred. I am happy to note that progress has been made: some persons of interest have already been identified, they are being interrogated, and many others will also be sought. I pray that the DCI will be successful,” he said.
Murkomen also commended members of the public who have provided crucial leads, adding that citizen cooperation is vital in resolving the case.
“We thank the eyewitnesses who were at the scene and have already come forward, as well as many other Kenyans of goodwill who are providing information to the DCI. I encourage more Kenyans to step forward and assist in the process.
Anyone who knows anything related to this heinous act should come out, because it is in the interest of both the security sector and the people of Kenya that the truth comes out and we fully understand what happened in this situation,” he added.
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